[CATL's Wu Kai: Sodium-ion mass production this year, lithium-air next]

Published: May 31, 2026 12:50
Wu Kai, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief scientist of CATL, said at the 2026 Equipment Power Forum that the company will achieve mass production of a series of sodium-ion battery products this year. Compared with lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries have abundant raw material resources and lower costs. Looking ahead, lithium-air batteries will be CATL's future direction. Wu Kai explained that lithium-air batteries use lithium as the negative electrode and oxygen from the air as the positive electrode reactant, offering ultra-high theoretical energy density and representing the next global battleground for next-generation batteries.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
NEVs May Have to Pay Road Maintenance Fees Too? Insiders Reveal Tax and Fee Reforms Including "Road Maintenance Fees"
1 hour ago
NEVs May Have to Pay Road Maintenance Fees Too? Insiders Reveal Tax and Fee Reforms Including "Road Maintenance Fees"
Read More
NEVs May Have to Pay Road Maintenance Fees Too? Insiders Reveal Tax and Fee Reforms Including "Road Maintenance Fees"
NEVs May Have to Pay Road Maintenance Fees Too? Insiders Reveal Tax and Fee Reforms Including "Road Maintenance Fees"
Recently, the continuously increasing curb weight of NEVs has become a hot topic in the industry, sparking heated discussions on whether NEVs should pay "road maintenance fees." According to multiple industry insiders, relevant authorities are already studying related policies. In addition to the allocation of road maintenance fees, this will involve more tax and fee systems related to the automotive industry, in order to make the system "keep pace with the times" and adapt to the new industry landscape. This means that the tax exemption benefits for NEVs may gradually phase out, shifting from "industry support" to "cost sharing." Wang Ning, Director of the Center for Automotive Industry and Technology Strategy at the School of Automotive and Energy, Tongji University, said in an interview, "From a long-term perspective, 'equal rights for gasoline and electric vehicles' is the future trend." Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the CPCA, who was the first to propose the special policy of converting road maintenance fees into taxes, also explicitly stated that the traditional road tax and fee system, which is tied to fuel consumption, has shown significant structural imbalance, making tax system iteration and upgrading imperative.
1 hour ago
[Automotive: CATL And Xiamen Public Transport Focus On Cooperation In Vehicle-To-Grid And Other Areas]
Common.Time.hoursAgo
[Automotive: CATL And Xiamen Public Transport Focus On Cooperation In Vehicle-To-Grid And Other Areas]
Read More
[Automotive: CATL And Xiamen Public Transport Focus On Cooperation In Vehicle-To-Grid And Other Areas]
[Automotive: CATL And Xiamen Public Transport Focus On Cooperation In Vehicle-To-Grid And Other Areas]
On June 12, CATL and Xiamen Public Transport Group completed a signing ceremony. The two parties will focus on areas such as vehicle aftermarket services, battery swap network construction, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. This cooperation aims to maximize the energy value of public mobility while supporting Xiamen in achieving its "dual carbon" goals. Zhang Qinghui, Director of the Big Data Center of Xiamen Public Transport Group, and Wang Chunhui, Executive Vice President of CATL's Bus Business Unit, signed the agreement on behalf of the respective parties. Lin Rongsheng, Chairman of Xiamen Public Transport Group, and Wang Hui, President of CATL's Bus Business Unit, along with others, attended and witnessed the signing ceremony.
Common.Time.hoursAgo
Cobalt product prices mostly fell; refined cobalt dropped 16,500 yuan; the market still awaits downstream demand recovery [Weekly Observation]
Jun 13, 2026 08:48
Cobalt product prices mostly fell; refined cobalt dropped 16,500 yuan; the market still awaits downstream demand recovery [Weekly Observation]
Read More
Cobalt product prices mostly fell; refined cobalt dropped 16,500 yuan; the market still awaits downstream demand recovery [Weekly Observation]
Cobalt product prices mostly fell; refined cobalt dropped 16,500 yuan; the market still awaits downstream demand recovery [Weekly Observation]
Jun 13, 2026 08:48